Political Assassination and the Quest for Unity in Utah
Last week, during an event at the National Press Club, Maryland Governor Wes Moore shared a somewhat grim adage for governors: “If you have not faced a tragedy,” Moore remarked, “just give it a second. Yours is on its way.”
Moore’s own tragedy stemmed from the Key Bridge collapse last year, which he recounted with palpable emotion. Next to him, Utah Governor Spencer Cox shook his head in sympathy, remarking, “I haven’t had to face anything quite like that.” However, fate had a different plan for Cox, as he soon found himself grappling with a tragedy of his own.
That tragedy struck Wednesday afternoon when conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, thrusting Cox’s state into the national spotlight. In a powerful response, the Utah governor labeled the incident a “political assassination,” vowing to pursue justice for the perpetrator.
Yet, amid his outrage, Cox made a heartfelt appeal, referencing the recent assassination of a Democratic Minnesota lawmaker and her husband, as well as the attempted killings of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and former President Donald Trump. “Our nation is broken,” he lamented, urging Americans to find a way to cease the cycle of hatred towards one another.
Cox, a second-term Republican, has made bridging the political divide his governing mantra. As the former chair of the National Governors Association, he launched the “Disagree Better” initiative, promoting bipartisan collaboration with Democratic states on issues ranging from teen social media use to housing crises.
His commitment to depolarization was further evidenced last year when, despite years of critique aimed at Trump, Cox endorsed him, stating his intention to “help (Trump) try to lower the temperature in this country.” However, the death of Kirk on Wednesday presented the most significant challenge yet to Cox’s vision and underscored the very political divide he has been warning against.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but an important one, to lead out and say, ‘This is not Utah, this is not the Utah way, this is not the American way,’” expressed Maury Giles, CEO of Braver Angels, a nonprofit dedicated to bridging partisan divides.
The shooting occurred as Kirk, 31, spoke to a large crowd during the first leg of a nationwide college tour, engaging in a provocative debate beneath a tent emblazoned with “Prove Me Wrong.” Midway through his address, he was shot in the neck, sending thousands of attendees, including children, into a panic. Kirk’s death was confirmed later that afternoon by Trump.
In a precautionary measure, Utah Highway Patrol officers were dispatched to the homes of prominent local figures, including former Governor Gary Herbert, who resides near the university campus.
“I think the jarring part was it happened in our own backyard,” Herbert remarked. “We expect more from ourselves than what we saw today.”
“It’s clearly not the Utah way,” added Senator John Curtis (R-Utah) during a CNN appearance that evening.
The “Utah way,” as Cox often articulates, emphasizes “disagreeing better, not disagreeing less.” His tenure as chair of the National Governors Association was marked by efforts to elevate this message nationally, fostering partnerships with nonprofits and Democratic leaders alike.
Reflecting on the state of the nation, Cox stated, “I just realized that we can’t solve any of the biggest issues if we all hate each other. I’m deeply concerned about the polarization in our country and our inability, especially in Congress, to work together and solve problems.” He draws inspiration from the teachings of Russell M. Nelson, the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which he credits for shaping his approach.
Tami Pyfer, co-creator of the Dignity Index—a tool designed to assess the contemptuousness of political rhetoric—described Wednesday’s act of violence as “sickening,” a stark reminder that the mission to bridge divides remains unfulfilled.
“It’s discouraging to look at the work that so many bridge-building organizations are doing across the country, literally hundreds of groups addressing this problem — we’re working our hearts out,” Pyfer stated, her voice quivering with emotion. “We’re working our hearts out to try to turn a corner on this.”
Pyfer, along with Giles, has collaborated closely with Cox on depolarization initiatives. Both praised his speech on Wednesday night, as did Scott Howell, a former Democratic state senator and minority leader in Utah. “Spencer really did hit the point,” Howell noted. “It would have been so easy for him to have said, ‘Democrats are the dregs of the earth’ or whatever. I give him big kudos. I really do.”
Cox’s message resonated with a call for peace. “If anyone in the sound of my voice celebrated, even a little bit, at the news of the shooting, I would beg you to look in the mirror and to see if you can find a better angel in there somewhere,” he urged on Wednesday.
“I don’t care what his politics are,” Cox added, referring to Kirk. “I care that he was an American.”
Herbert, who deemed Cox’s address “outstanding, considering the circumstances,” acknowledged that his former lieutenant governor’s greatest challenge now lies ahead. “The question, ultimately, is how effective is what we say? How does it impact what we do?”
